Things didn’t go very well for Ibrox in last year’s rookie season, but he made a big splash in his sophomore debut on Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack

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The three-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Armbro Wonderful marched to the top and powered away from 10 foes in the lone elimination for this year’s Tie Silk Stakes.

Ibrox was hustled to the early lead by driver Jody Jamieson. They checked in at the quarter pole in :28.1 before getting mild pressure from Con Brio Hall at the through the next two junctures clocked in :58.3 and 1:28. Jamieson flipped the switch coming off the final turn Ibrox dropped Con Brio Hall like a bad habit. A :29-second final frame helped the gelding propel himself to a 6-1/2 lengths tally over Con Brio Hall, with Going For It taking home the third prize.

Igor Vrablic trains the lightly-raced square gaiter for Ibrox Racing of Cambridge, ON. The trotter was purchased for the bargain price of $5,000 from the 2009 Lexington Select Yearling Sale.

The top ten finishers from Thursday’s elimination will advance to next Thursday’s final. Here’s how they’ll line up on the starting gate:

$60,000 Tie Silk Stakes Final
1. R As Shakenbake
2. Handsome Yankee
3. Going For It
4. Ibrox
5. Sholty
6. Con Brio Hall
7. Field Of Dreams
8. Only The Best It
9. Onirique
10. Hearthetrainacomin

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.